EAST LANSING - Mark Dantonio and his assistants preach the importance of positive energy on the sideline during the course of the game.

But for a good chunk of the first half at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Minnesota possessed a clear advantage in sideline demeanor. Riding a wave of momentum from their upset victory over Iowa in a trophy game the previous weekend, the Golden Gophers jumped out to a 7-0 lead with the help of uncharacteristically poor tackling by the Michigan State defense. Minnesota made the most of a short field and a quick change of a possession to turn an Edwin Baker fumble the second of two first quarter touchdowns for the Golden Gophers.

"We had a slow start early, and I myself kind of take responsibility for it because I was kind of flat," explained sophomore middle linebacker Max Bullough. "Then they scored that seven and I was really angry, I was really upset, and I didn't do anything about it. I was kind of one of those guys that sat there and was all bothered sitting on the bench by myself."